Make basic medical care a right [Letter]

I agree with letter writer Irwin Fried ("Scrap Obamacare for single-payer system," Nov. 18). In this country, we agree it is a social good for everyone, rich or poor, to have a public education at taxpayer expense until the age of 18. Even if you don't have children, you still have to pay taxes to support the schools. This is available even for "illegal immigrants." If you want to pay extra, you can send your children to private school.

Are we not in a position where we can also give every person in the country (even non-citizens) basic medical care? It seems clear to most thinking folks that this is not only the moral thing to do, but it also makes economic sense. The Affordable Care Act is an attempt to repair a broken system of private for-profit companies that promise "insurance" but are really designed to make a profit for shareholders.